Vibrating device



Feb. zo, 1934. L, CORNWELL 1,948,167

VIBRATING DEVICE Filed Dec. l 1932 vll 1,11/

2*' 1 INVENTCR A wlmwdz BY 3* ATTORNEY-1 Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- Application December 1,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to vibrating devices, and more particularly to such devices for use in massaging the human body while simultaneously applying a iiuid to the body. For example, the invention in a preferred embodiment takes the form of a hydrovibrator and is ideally suited for use in the field of hydrotherapy, as well as for use in a more general manner.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for producing a vibrant massage while simultaneously applying a flow of desired fluid, such ior example as water, at the desired temperature to the portions being massaged.

The invention consists in the novel features, arrangements, construction and combination of parts embodied by way of example in the apparatus to be hereinafter described, as illustrating the present preferred form of the invention, and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Further and more speoinc objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which form a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken at 2 2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken at 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the body or housing of the device comprises the upper portion 1 and the lower portion 2, which in the present embodiment are made of light metal. The upper portion 1 is or such size and shape as to be conveniently grasped in the hand and therefore serving as a handle or grip portion for holding the device while in use. The lower portion 2 is extended outwardly to provide a relatively large area, and for purposes of facilitating the attachment of a massage element is provided with marginal liange 3 to which the massage element 4 may be attached by means of a reentrant lip 5. In the present preferred embodiment the massage element 4 is in the form of a mat made of rubber to provide suitable exibility and carries the massaging tips 6. The massage element is also provided with iuid outlet openings such as '7 and 8. The parts thus arranged provide a fluid chamber deiined by the members 1, 2 and 4.

Vibrant means is vprovided within the iiuid chamber for imparting the desired vibrations to the massaging element 4, in the manner to be now described. A supporting frame, designated in general as 9, is resiliently supported from the 1932. Serial No. 645,147

(Cl. 12S- 66) housing by suitable yielding means such as the springs 10. The supporting frame 9 comprises a bottom or base portion 1l and an upright bracket portion l2 in the general shape of an inverted U, whose open ends or legs are integrally or rigidly secured to the base l1. Mounted within the U bracket 12 of the frame 9 is a fluid rotor 13 provided with iiuid buckets 14 in the manner of a Pelton wheel. This rotor is dynamicaliy unbalanced such as by being weighted at one portion of its periphery to thereby provide a rotatively unbalanced rotor. The rotor is provided with a shaft or axle 15 which is journaled in suitable bearings carried by the supportingframe 9.

The operating uid is discharged against the rotor by suitable means such as the nozzle 16 which is provided with an outer beaded end i7 to facilitate the attachment of a rubber tube or hose 18 serving to connect the device to a suitable source of fluid such as a water spigot; and the body of the nozzle 16 then curves upwardly along the upper wall of the housing 1 and then downwardly, terminating in a discharge end provided with a nozzle opening 19 adapted to eject a thin ribbon-like stream against the buckets 14. In order to steady the motive means during operation, a suitable resilient pad such as the sponge rubber block 20 is secured to the underneath portion of the nozzle tube 16, and the upper portion of the U member 12 is firmly held against the under side of the pad 2G such as by tension of springs 10; and leaf springs 23 are attached to opposite sides of the housing 1 and slidably bear on the side walls of frame 9.

In order to provide additional invigoration to the portions being massaged, means is provided for directing the greater portion of the operating uid in a restricted flow or jet downwardly through the massage mat 4. To accomplish this, a discharge chute 21 is positioned around that portion of the rotor 13 which is beneath the nozzle opening 19. Discharge chute 21 is contracted at its lower portion 22 to provide an orifice which is in register with an opening in the base member 11 of the supporting frame and is also in register with the outlet opening 8 in the mat 4. The opening in the base member 11 is preferably covered with ne wire gauze to prevent the passage of foreign matter therethrough and also to provide a fine limited division to the discharge fluid stream. It is within the contemplation of the invention that the fluid employed may be any suitable medium desired to be applied to the human body. For example, among the fluids may be mentioned air, gas, water, or mixtures of the same, at the desired temperature and pressure.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the fluid, such for example as water, enter- 5 ing through the nozzle tube 16 passes out through the oriiice 19 and impinges upon the buckets 14 causing the rotor 13 to be rotated at a high Velocity in accordance with the velocity of the `iet of fluid, which in turn is largely dependent 1o on the pressure of said fluid. The jet of fluid upon rotating the wheel passes on and a large portion is directed by the discharge chute 21 outwardly through the orice 22, through the opening 8 and on to the portion being massaged. A

i5 limited quantity of the fluid will of course be thrown outwardly beyond the confines of the chute 21 and such extraneous or limited supply of fluid will pass outwardly through the openings such as 7.

Having thus described my invention with particularity with reference to its preferred form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that other changes and modifications may be made therein without 2d departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

* 1. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a housing having a flexible massaging member forming a face thereof, means Ior discharging a fluid supply within said housing, and rotatable vibrant means in vibrating engagegiment with said massaging member and resiliently supported within said housing in the path of said fluid discharge for operation thereby.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing having an enlarged open face, a ilexible massage surface over said opening and carried by said housing, a frame resiliently supported within said housing and engaging the inner side of said massage surface, a fluid rotor pivotally supported by said frame in a rotatably unbalanced condition, and means for discharging operative fluid against said rotor.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing having a hand-engageable upper portion and an extended lower portion, a flexible massage member attached t0 and carried by said lower portion, rotatably unbalanced iiuid motive means within said housing and extending within said hand-engageable housing portion, means for resiliently supporting said motive means for the transmission of vibrations therefrom to said massaging member, and means for directing actuating uid against said 95 motive means.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing having a hand-engageable upper portion and an integral lower portion providing an outwardly extending margin, l a ilexible mat secured to said margin and provided with massaging elements and with fluid outlet openings, said housing and mat providing a fluid chamber, a supporting frame within said chamber and resiliently suspended from said housing, an unbalanced fluid rotor pivotally supported in said frame, means for supplying motivating fluid to said rotor, and means carried by said frame for directing a discharge jet of fluid from said rotor through one of said outlet open- 11o" ings in said mat.

LIONEL B. CORNWELL. 

